The New Sprezzatura?
It seems the Italians are dying to find new Agnelli-isms.
Apparently leaving the strap of your monkstrap shoes undone is all the rage. Usually I only see it done with double monkstraps, but this brave Italian was throwing caution (and safety) to the wind and had the straps on both shoes undone.
I'm not condoning, just reporting.
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post a commentIs he trying to set a new trend, or maybe he just forgot? One time I was very tired going to work and didn't realize until halfway there I had on two different shoes....
I would love to hear a comment from some of these people on their outfits.
It reminds me of the things kids do at school to show they're in or not. At my daughter's school, the kids all criss-cross the velcro straps on their shoes in an X.
hmmm... i'll try it and report back. seems a tad too affected, though...
I live in Milano and have not noted this yet. The trend may be contained therefore to the fashion set, but then again, if I am looking at shoes, they are almost always on women, especially now since the weather has all these fabulous stivali out of the shoe closets of our many beautiful women!
ha. thanks for the afternoon giggle..
LOVE IT. The shoes are perfection, I want the trousers to be slimmer all-over.
The definition of affectation.
Poor show.
This reminds me of an architect I met recently who kept his shoe laces undone. I thought he had forgotten and pointed them to him, to which he replied: "No, it's ok. I like living dangerously". Pffff... If this is the idea of danger in someone's life, something's wrong with him.
I bet the pic was taken in Verona?! You do not sound judgemental at all, love the color of the pant with light brown, sooo Italian.
Sart: thanks for saying you're not condoning it. if this is really a trend it's reminding me of junior high silliness, certainly not alta moda.
if I see this picture, i see a rather big man, who´s foot arch is surely little higher than usual. And after a couple of hours in a tight shoe, your foot will be even bigger. The only thing you can think of is to undo the straps to make your feet easy in the shoe.
this version is surely very far from the new Agnelli-ism....anyway.
great style.
I do the same but only with my double monks
thumbs up for that brave guy
Not cutting it for me. I mean, the straps on a monk strap have a purpose, unlike let's say, the cinch belt on a trench coat (seldom used) or the waist belt on a biker leather jacket (even more rarely used). There are wonderful loafers out there that have no need for straps. Perhaps, as you say, shoes with 2 straps, you can get away with leaving the top strap off. From conversations with my cobbler, these types of things tend to cause unusual wear of a fine shoe. A high price to pay for one-season affectation. Jorge from W Palm Beach
I don't think it counts as starting a new trend when I see kids walking around with their sneaker tongues out. Seems like it's just moving on to classier footwear.
I do something similar with shoes or boots that lace up. Could be this person has left his straps undone for the same reason: high arch and high instep, and it just hurts to have the straps or laces "done".
That could have been me!
Great look!
I am at a loss with this whole "affectation" rant. I think the word is overused.
If I had been strapping my monks
for ten years and then one day decide to leave one undone. Just because, or to be different, aka not wanting to look like everyone else, why is that bad?
There HAS to be a difference between bucking a trend/the norm and affectation. Especially if it works.
don't like it !
It looks messy and bad mannered...
Would you girls accept a date invitation from a man wearing his shoes like this ?...On sneakers, yeah but not on classic 'scarpe' ...
tiffany, personally i think that men's fashion has deeper roots in pragmatism than women's fashion. i use the word affected because it was the first one that came to mind when i saw it but pretentious would have worked just as well.
amazing shoes! can't do the loose buckle thing. it's kinda like guys leaving the label on their coat sleeve......
yay folded pants!
what's the italian word for "trying too hard"?
It's a extremely cool picture, so simple but yet I feel it so much! I like the shoes:)
southerngentinl.a.: Do you actually see men leaving the label on their coat sleeve?!?! That just seems so comical...
As for the "rage" of leaving your monkstrap shoe undone-- sloppy, sloppy, sloppy and childish. Such affectation should not even be noticed.
PLO
I like the blue slacks + brown shoes. Shows it can be done if the wearer is stylish!
Its also the rage to sag your pants with this look. Match the boxers with the tie. let the heal of the shoe scuff losely as you walk down the sidewalk, yo
By leaving his shoes unbuckled, this gentleman looks like he is putting strain on the leather - they may be creased when he takes them off. Where is the strap? Just hanging loose at his instep, being damaged on the street surface?
Also, it doesn't do any favours for his trouser cuffs which can't decide whether to be inside or outside the shoe!
I think this photo was taken at the end of a hard day when he was wearing his new shoes and his feet were sore. Also his hands in his trouser pockets are giving an unfortunate shape to the top of his trousers. It doesn't look deliberate to me.
I have the answer! He has just had lunch at a Japanese restaurant!
Take a look at the creases on the back of his knees. He had to take his shoes off and kneel on the floor. Then when he stood up he slipped his shoes on and was too stiff to bend and do them up.
Just call me Sherlock ;)
I am hoping he had to leave in a hurry as his lover's husband came home - he fleeing left while the cuckhold walks in without noticing from the right.
That would be reason enough for walking around with your shoes open - otherwise I am not sure the point, I think it misses on the style front. I have a hard time getting it at all unless he has a disorder that prevents him from bending over and fastening his shoes and/or is just plain lazy to a degree beyond what most couch potatoes here in the US even aspire to
Lovely pant length
Ummm... NO!
Remember Run DMC in the 80's with their unlaced Addidas? I think we can draw some parallels here.....hilarious!
Desperate! Besides, the point of monk-strap shoes is to showcase the buckle and flap; they have to be done up.
I believe in doing what you like, fashion-wise; But this could easily look affected depending on how you wear it. Here, to me, it looks affected. What could you hope to achieve by this other than looking eccentric? Thanks for the report, though.
The shoes . . . Bontoni or Gravati? Can't tell for sure, but the toe box looks Bontoni to me. Either way, love the depth to that cognac calf. Italians are more expressive in their dress than any other.
The best part of this post is just the fact that you said "sprezzatura".
I dig it. Your point about safety is a good one - I suppose that depending on the shoe, a guy could walk right out of this style.
enough with the 'affected' already everyone, it's cool get over it :P
Che brutta figura!
The back of these buckles are not nicely finished. Would be best to pull the strap though.
Silly man.
wow do people know what sprezzatura is? I didn't know it was ever used in a modern context and only know it from my art history days.
The Agnelli "watch over shirt cuff" style was indeed rooted in pragmatism and had an element of convenience. Here the convenience of not strapping the buckle is offset by the loose shoe.
The previous poster finds it cool. I remain deeply skeptical. The same logic of cool could just as well reason that it is cool to walk around with one's fly open. While it could litteraly be "cool", esp. in winter, it would not strike me as cool style wise.
isn´t F1-mogul Bernie Ecclestone famous for wearing his monkstraps undone?
This is different. Different is interesting. Stephanie
hahahah Scott you know your readers, very funny of to remind us that you are just informing!
What about the un-laced Converse All Stars that are so popular now?
as a proud Italian, I'm not digging it
Ugly "trend" that'll never become a trend. You can't be a formal and try to wear your formal shoes like you're hip and trendy, it just doesn't go hand in hand. You wanna be trendy? wear some trendy shoes and THEN unbuckle them.
It is a bit affected but you have to appreciate the effort. We should all attempt to subvert our own fashion sensibilities with a dash of creative adjustment. The awkward and the odd are what push the trend conscious to be trend setters. Don't be afraid to mismatch, unbutton, and let go. Plus, I love monk-straps however you wear them.
sprezzatura... i love it
Sometimes I don't buckle my monks, just because it's easier to get out of the house- if they fit well, they slide on just a little easier than loafers, and should stay snug.
It is my pleasure to read your article! What a vivid photo it is! Thank you for sharing! good luck!
Thanks for posting, I really enjoyed your most recent post. I think you should post more often, you obviously have natural ability for blogging!
I think its a pretty good idea not that there aren't other sites out there that already do something similar but I think it might catch on here pretty well.
Its nice blog with nice style to be seen. I would say that the design of shoes has varied enormously through time, and from culture to culture, with appearance originally being tied to function, thanks.
haha seems like a great way to trip over rather then a fashion statement.
Very nice blog BTW
nice and amazing new fashioned blog and i love it...
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